Maintaining the optimal oral health of your teeth and gums requires routine dental cleaning. Even if you brush and floss every day, some amount of plaque and tartar will still stick to the teeth. Regular dental cleanings help remove it and prevent dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, and more. But you might wonder, how often should you get a dental cleaning near you from a dentist? Here, we’ll discuss expert recommendations on how often you should get dental cleaning.
Benefits of Regular Dental Cleanings
Dentists offer regular cleanings, which have multiple advantages for your oral health, including:
1. Prevention of Cavities and Gum Disease
Regular cleanings help to prevent cavities and gum disease by removing plaque and tartar from the mouth, which can cause these concerns.
2. Fresh Breath
Dental cleaning helps to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
3. Brightening Your Smile
During a dental cleaning, polishing your teeth can help remove surface stains and thus brighten your smile.
4. Early Detection of Dental Problems
Dental cleaning helps to detect dental problems at an early age and treat them to prevent further complications.
5. Improved Overall Health
Good oral health is connected with improved overall health. Regular cleanings can lower your chance of acquiring diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, which have been connected to poor dental hygiene.
Expert Recommendations: How Often to Get a Dental Cleaning?
Most dentists generally recommend getting a dental cleaning every six months. However, everyone’s dental cleaning needs vary depending on their oral health.
Healthy Adults
Mostly for healthy adults, a dental cleaning every six months is ideal. It helps the dentist detect dental issues such as cavities or gum disease earlier, thus preventing further dental issues. Therefore, regular dental cleaning helps to maintain good oral hygiene.
Children
Children are required to visit the dentist every six months. Since children’s teeth are more prone to cavities, regular cleaning helps to prevent it. To prevent cavities, the dentist may place protective coatings called sealants on their teeth. Also, regular exams ensure that their teeth grow in the right way.
People with Gum Disease:
If you have gum disease, your dentist might recommend regular cleanings every three to four months rather than every six months. More often, cleanings help to manage gum disease and prevent it from getting worse.
People with Braces or Orthodontic Appliances
Periodic cleanings may be necessary for individuals with dental braces or other types of orthodontic applications. Dental braces make mouth cleaning difficult because plaque accumulates more easily, increasing the risk of decay and cavity formation. Regular dental cleanings help people prevent these issues, thus protecting the teeth from such issues.
People with a History of Dental Issues
If you have a history of dental issues like cavities or gum disease, your dentist is likely to recommend more frequent dental cleanings. This ensures that dental issues are identified and addressed at an early stage.
What to Expect During Dental Cleaning?
Understanding what happens during a dental cleaning will make you feel more at ease throughout the process. Here’s what to expect:
Step 1: Oral Examination
The dentist will first examine your mouth for any sign of gum disease or other dental problems in the teeth and gums before performing the cleaning. If the dentist detects any problems, you can take this opportunity to discuss the issues with the dentist before proceeding.
Step 2: Removal of Plaque and Tartar
A dentist will use specialized tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. This is done especially at the gum line and between your teeth. This is known as scaling. You might hear some scraping sounds during this step, but that is completely normal.
Step 3: Professional Flossing
After dental scaling, the dentist flosses your teeth to remove plaque and food particles that may remain between your teeth.
Step 4: Polishing Your Teeth
Dentists use special gritty toothpaste and a rotating brush to polish your teeth, removing surface stains and making your teeth smooth and clean.
Step 5: Fluoride Treatment
A professional may sometimes recommend a fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth and protect them from decay. Fluoride is a mineral that helps make the enamel (the outer layer of your teeth) stronger.
Step 6: Final Examination by a Dentist
After the cleaning, a dentist will check your teeth and gums to ensure everything seems healthy. They may also take X-rays to detect problems that were not obvious during the physical examination.
Key Takeaway
Regular dental cleanings are essential for maintaining good oral health. Most people should visit the dentist for a cleaning every six months. Some have to go more often due to their individual needs and oral health conditions. Doing so will help you to have healthy teeth and gums for years to come.
Contact Marigold Dental Clinic Today for a Healthier Mouth!
Marigold Dental Clinic is a professional clinic offering multiple dental services. Our team of dentist in Pitt Meadows ensures quality dental care in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Whether you require regular dental cleaning, root canal therapy, or any other treatment, we are here to help you achieve a healthy smile. So why wait? Contact us today to achieve a brighter and healthier smile.